All 400 Wilko stores set to close next month with loss of thousands of jobs

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

All 400 Wilko stores will close by early October with the loss of thousands of jobs, the GMB union has said. It comes after hopes of a deal that could have saved hundreds of stores and thousands of jobs collapsed.

As a result all Wilko, which employed around 12,500 staff, will shut all its stores by early October. Administrators have already announced more than 1,600 redundancies at Wilko in recent weeks. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features GMB said: “We are incredibly sorry to have to share the devastating news that (administrators) PwC have confirmed the previous offer being explored for the sale of hundreds of stores as a going concern has fallen through,” the union said. “There is now no prospect of saving the remaining store estate in its entirety and all Wilko stores will close by early October with DCs (distribution centres) to close on Friday September 15.” It added: “Although separate bids may be made for leases of groups of sites, these deals will not secure jobs, although the option to take up new employment with the bidders for these sites is something we are now pushing for. “This is not the news our members or the GMB had been hoping for or working towards. “We share the sorrow and anger of every Wilko team member today.” Both of Wilko’s warehouses will close this Friday.

A second round of store closures will be announced on Tuesday, it said. These 124 sites will close between September 19 and September 21.

GMB said: “Staff will be asked to work two extra days after the store have closed. Likewise, a small number will be required to stay on at the DCs for up to 14 days to assist with the decommissioning.” This week the retailer will shut 52 shops